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The latest Arizona Vegetable Integrated Pest Management Update from the University of Arizona (UA) Cooperative Extension in Yuma, Ariz.

Alternatives for aphid management in desert produce

By John Palumbo, UA Research Scientist and Extension Specialist

With the cold weather conditions experienced in early February, one might conclude that aphid pressure will subside. However, aphid populations monitored in untreated lettuce plots at the Yuma Agricultural Center (YAC) suggest differently.

We observed a steady increase in both green peach aphids and Acyrthosiphon lactucae, which is an aphid species specific to lettuce with no common name that occurs sporadically in desert produce.

The highest abundance recorded is about 18 aphids/plant, and on average we are finding about 4-5 aphids/plant in untreated lettuce. This is up from less than 2 aphids per plant prior to the freeze we experienced. We also observed an increase in winged (alate) aphids which is likely due to the gusting north winds experienced recently.

With warmer temperatures we anticipate these numbers to increase. You might want to pay particular attention for aphid colonization when visiting fields.

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What was important is that to conduct a survey to detect the amount of essential requirements to be used for the majority of the growth. Since cooler temperatures are inhibiting the growth of the aphids vegetation, regular researchers have tamed to the solution that the conditions will be far better during the warmer temperatures to come thus bringing a relative change in the life long activity of the farmers.Virginia injury attorneys